It’s always a lot of work to bring on a new team member, regardless of the organization. The trick is to set up some standard practices so onboarding happens more smoothly. If you’re in a hospital, locum tenens onboarding can present some unique challenges. How can you manage the onboarding process so it works almost seamlessly?
Hire Well the First Time
You’ll have a much easier locum tenens onboarding when you hire the right person for your hospital. Someone with experience and a sense of adventure who is self-motivated will be able to move through the onboarding process pretty quickly. However, if your new hire lacks self-confidence and doesn’t understand your systems, you’re going to have to take more time to train them. That doesn’t mean they won’t be successful; it just means you’ll have more training.
Be Ready Before the Team Member Arrives
It’s not often a surprise that you have a new team member starting. Many organizations are ill-prepared to start that person when they arrive. Before your new hospitalist starts their assignment, set up an email, phone number, and system access. Create a working space for them, if appropriate.
When it’s time for locum tenens onboarding, you’ll have the preliminary components completed ahead of time, making that first day so much easier. Then your new physician can spend that first shift learning about how the floor works and meeting their new team members rather than worrying about a computer password.
Make Expectations Clear
Hospitals are fast-paced places. It can be challenging to find the time needed to show a new person the ropes. It’s for that reason that a standardized training program can be a lifesaver. It’s best to make this available online so that the locum tenens onboarding can occur during down (or off) times.
Training manuals should outline the expectations for the new role, so there are very few—if any—questions. These can be a good way to expedite the locum tenens onboarding process and provide resources moving forward.
Provide Ongoing Feedback
When a locum tenens is on assignment for 30–60 days, you want to be quick with the feedback. Check in at the end of the first shift and the end of the first week to be sure everything is clear, and there are no questions. If you want your locum tenens to shadow a tenured physician, set up that process before the start date.